February and winter rages on. The first of many Xbox 2 information leaks hit, with gossip nailing the machine as being, “…based around ATi’s R500 and will be fully compatible with DirectX 9 and 10. As well as a standard graphics rendering core, the as-yet unnamed processor will feature embedded DRAM to act as a frame-buffer, capable of wrestling an image of 480i, thus making fully anti-aliased high-definition TV possible for the first time. The RAM allocation is said to have increased from 256MB to 512MB, operating on a 256-bit bus - a figure likely to exceed the possibilities on offer to competitors at launch. Three IBM 64-bit microprocessors, as used in Apple Computer's high-end G5 PowerMac, will be incorporated, lending the new machine more computing power than most current PCs. According to sources, compatibility with the current model Xbox isn't guaranteed, mainly due to the Intel and nVidia CPU/GPU combination it employs.”
The Japanese patent office throws up some gems on the 2nd. Square Enix registers Curse of Promathia, Namco - Tales of Rebirth, Tales of Justice, Tales of Honesty, Tales of Tactics for iMode, Sony coins Mojib Ribbon; Nintendo - Golfing Legends and Kirby: Mirror Labyrinth with Konami nabbing Frogger: The Mystery of the Ancient Civilization, Buster Scorpion, Diet Channel Invasion of Chaos. Sega’s Teddy Boy Blues application generates most excitement.
The first incident of Sony rejecting smaller, older game offerings occurs as SPOnG exclusively reveals the refusal of Metal Slug 3 and Samurai Spirits as stand-alone products. This new, vehemently-enforced strategy would go on to dog attempts by Sega and SNK to release back catalogue software.
Speaking to CNN Money on the 6th, Valve frontman Doug Lombardi said that the development team "...is currently targeting this summer for the completion of Half-Life 2...for the game’s final release.”
Nintendo as a software-only third-party developer talk flares in a big way in Japan. Nihon Keizai Shimbun put to press a piece, quoting a senior Nintendo staffer saying, "There is no way we are going to win competing in the same arena as electronics and computer makers. Our best option is to build on our software development abilities.”
The article concludes, "So as the gaming market shrinks, Nintendo has declined to go face to face with Sony, which is taking its game machines into the realm of digital appliances, and will instead seek to survive by concentrating on the market for children.”
Nintendo reacts quickly. Speaking to SPOnG, the firm says, “Contrary to what has been reported in one Japanese publication, Nintendo is staying in the console hardware business and still plans to launch our next home console in the same timeframe as our competitors. In addition, we are working on a number of complementary technical advances that we believe may significantly enhance the gaming experience. We also continue to look for exciting ways to extend the value of the GCN, and will share those ideas with you in the coming months. Specific details about other accessories or systems and their functionalities haven't yet been made public. However, we will make further information about our next console available in the near future, and we look forward to further demonstrating our record of breakthrough innovation in video game play.” The gossip eventually fades, though the damage to the credibility of Nintendo’s home console push is lasting.
By the 11th a fight-back strategy is seen. Minagawa-san dates the first showing of the machine that will become the Nintendo Revolution for E3 2005.
The 13th and Sammy's press office releases a statement to the financial sector detailing how the pachinko giant plans to release 40 billion yen ($380 million) in bonds to pay off outstanding debts, incurred during the firm's massive purchase of CSK's residual Sega stock. The viability of the Sega buy-out, still the true extent of which is still denied, is openly, widely questioned.
Three days later and former Nintendo president and globally adored bigmouth Hiroshi Yamauchi decides to pipe up, this time about the future of the Kyoto giant. “"We plan to show the successor to the GC at next year's E3, even though typical gamers aren't demanding high specs," he said. "The people who call it the "next generation" are people who don't know games," he somewhat mystically continued, sentiments to be echoed with the revelation of the Revolution. However, the best quote from the interview had to be about the recently announced Nintendo Dual Screen. "The next two years will decide Nintendo's fate. If the DS succeeds, we will rise to heaven. But if it fails, we will sink into hell."
Iwata-san underlined this thinking. “At E3 Expo next year the company will introduce its next-generation console. So the company is entering a critical phase in its history in the next two years."
The 17th and Sega’s constant lying is fully exposed. Sammy simply boots out Sega’s management and replaces it with its own. Sega sees massive high-level walkouts. Specifically Sammy CEO Hajime Satomi instates himself as Sega Chairman ousting popular long-time Sega man Hideki Sato. Sato is demoted. Sega president Hisao Oguchi is also demoted and all executive power is stripped from him. His new role is described as mascot. Sammy passes a representative rights management structure gifting itself full control of Sega. Two Sega directors, Masahiro Aozono and Makoto Kaneshiro walk out at the announcement meeting in full public view.
The 20th and Polyphony announces by way of the SCEJ press office that Gran Turismo 4 will now not be available in Japan until autumn…
The 23rd brings fallout from the AOU 2004 show revealing the sad demise of the Neo Geo MVS arcade platform, with Samurai Spirits Zero Special given the distinction of being the last game to be released for the system. The machine, powered by a bespoke Motorola 68000 graphics chip and a Z80 central processor, first hit arcades back in 1989 and was capable of throwing around 380 sprites using a colour palate 64,000 strong – a true powerhouse in its day. The news is greeted with great sadness by the gaming hardcore fringe.
On the same day, an unnamed student, was alleged to have turned up to Polk County Junior High School with a hollowed-out Game Boy that he had filled with gunpowder. However, his plot, whatever it might have been, was foiled when a fellow student reported the device to police.
SPOnG receives an hilarious call from Infinium CEO Tim Roberts following a piece we put to press questioning the viability of the Phantom project. Roberts demanded, "Explain your article! Why do you think the Phantom is vapourware?" The answer was simple. We explained that the claims made relating to third-party support were surprising and nothing had been shown to add weight to any software or hardware claims. "Right, I’ll call you back later and we’ll discuss everything. I’ll explain exactly what we are doing and where we are up to." He never called back.
That day Roberts came under personal and professional fire in one article on website HardOCP that read, "Timothy Roberts has helmed several businesses that have failed or have gone bankrupt in the last six years. A couple of these high profile bankruptcies cost investors in those companies millions and millions of dollars. Mr. Roberts is now the head of a new company, Infinium Labs, and is rounding up money from investors to realise his latest vision."
The article went on to cast aspertions about Roberts’ business dealings, and hinted that Infinium may well dealing in sharp practice.
Well, last week, Roberts came out fighting. In a legal letter to HardOCP, Infinium and Roberts demand a retraction. "We hereby demand that you immediately remove the Article and Infinium's proprietary images and marks from your website and the Internet, print a retraction of the article, and cease and desist from disparaging Infinium Labs and its principals in any way, including, but not limited to, making distorted and misleading statements about them or repeating distorted and misleading statements made by others. Your activities may provide sufficient grounds for Infinium and Mr Roberts to assert a number of...claims against you, including, without limitations, trade disparagement and trade libel, trademark infringement, tortuous interference, and unfair business practices. Furthermore, your statements and use of Infinium's proprietary images were obviously published with the intent to tarnish Infinium's image and dilute the value of its name. Such conduct is actionable under federal law."
To date the Phantom represents nothing more than an interesting controller design and someone else’s financial black hole.
The Japanese patent office throws up some gems on the 2nd. Square Enix registers Curse of Promathia, Namco - Tales of Rebirth, Tales of Justice, Tales of Honesty, Tales of Tactics for iMode, Sony coins Mojib Ribbon; Nintendo - Golfing Legends and Kirby: Mirror Labyrinth with Konami nabbing Frogger: The Mystery of the Ancient Civilization, Buster Scorpion, Diet Channel Invasion of Chaos. Sega’s Teddy Boy Blues application generates most excitement.
The first incident of Sony rejecting smaller, older game offerings occurs as SPOnG exclusively reveals the refusal of Metal Slug 3 and Samurai Spirits as stand-alone products. This new, vehemently-enforced strategy would go on to dog attempts by Sega and SNK to release back catalogue software.
Speaking to CNN Money on the 6th, Valve frontman Doug Lombardi said that the development team "...is currently targeting this summer for the completion of Half-Life 2...for the game’s final release.”
Nintendo as a software-only third-party developer talk flares in a big way in Japan. Nihon Keizai Shimbun put to press a piece, quoting a senior Nintendo staffer saying, "There is no way we are going to win competing in the same arena as electronics and computer makers. Our best option is to build on our software development abilities.”
The article concludes, "So as the gaming market shrinks, Nintendo has declined to go face to face with Sony, which is taking its game machines into the realm of digital appliances, and will instead seek to survive by concentrating on the market for children.”
Nintendo reacts quickly. Speaking to SPOnG, the firm says, “Contrary to what has been reported in one Japanese publication, Nintendo is staying in the console hardware business and still plans to launch our next home console in the same timeframe as our competitors. In addition, we are working on a number of complementary technical advances that we believe may significantly enhance the gaming experience. We also continue to look for exciting ways to extend the value of the GCN, and will share those ideas with you in the coming months. Specific details about other accessories or systems and their functionalities haven't yet been made public. However, we will make further information about our next console available in the near future, and we look forward to further demonstrating our record of breakthrough innovation in video game play.” The gossip eventually fades, though the damage to the credibility of Nintendo’s home console push is lasting.
By the 11th a fight-back strategy is seen. Minagawa-san dates the first showing of the machine that will become the Nintendo Revolution for E3 2005.
The 13th and Sammy's press office releases a statement to the financial sector detailing how the pachinko giant plans to release 40 billion yen ($380 million) in bonds to pay off outstanding debts, incurred during the firm's massive purchase of CSK's residual Sega stock. The viability of the Sega buy-out, still the true extent of which is still denied, is openly, widely questioned.
Three days later and former Nintendo president and globally adored bigmouth Hiroshi Yamauchi decides to pipe up, this time about the future of the Kyoto giant. “"We plan to show the successor to the GC at next year's E3, even though typical gamers aren't demanding high specs," he said. "The people who call it the "next generation" are people who don't know games," he somewhat mystically continued, sentiments to be echoed with the revelation of the Revolution. However, the best quote from the interview had to be about the recently announced Nintendo Dual Screen. "The next two years will decide Nintendo's fate. If the DS succeeds, we will rise to heaven. But if it fails, we will sink into hell."
Iwata-san underlined this thinking. “At E3 Expo next year the company will introduce its next-generation console. So the company is entering a critical phase in its history in the next two years."
The 17th and Sega’s constant lying is fully exposed. Sammy simply boots out Sega’s management and replaces it with its own. Sega sees massive high-level walkouts. Specifically Sammy CEO Hajime Satomi instates himself as Sega Chairman ousting popular long-time Sega man Hideki Sato. Sato is demoted. Sega president Hisao Oguchi is also demoted and all executive power is stripped from him. His new role is described as mascot. Sammy passes a representative rights management structure gifting itself full control of Sega. Two Sega directors, Masahiro Aozono and Makoto Kaneshiro walk out at the announcement meeting in full public view.
The 20th and Polyphony announces by way of the SCEJ press office that Gran Turismo 4 will now not be available in Japan until autumn…
The 23rd brings fallout from the AOU 2004 show revealing the sad demise of the Neo Geo MVS arcade platform, with Samurai Spirits Zero Special given the distinction of being the last game to be released for the system. The machine, powered by a bespoke Motorola 68000 graphics chip and a Z80 central processor, first hit arcades back in 1989 and was capable of throwing around 380 sprites using a colour palate 64,000 strong – a true powerhouse in its day. The news is greeted with great sadness by the gaming hardcore fringe.
On the same day, an unnamed student, was alleged to have turned up to Polk County Junior High School with a hollowed-out Game Boy that he had filled with gunpowder. However, his plot, whatever it might have been, was foiled when a fellow student reported the device to police.
SPOnG receives an hilarious call from Infinium CEO Tim Roberts following a piece we put to press questioning the viability of the Phantom project. Roberts demanded, "Explain your article! Why do you think the Phantom is vapourware?" The answer was simple. We explained that the claims made relating to third-party support were surprising and nothing had been shown to add weight to any software or hardware claims. "Right, I’ll call you back later and we’ll discuss everything. I’ll explain exactly what we are doing and where we are up to." He never called back.
That day Roberts came under personal and professional fire in one article on website HardOCP that read, "Timothy Roberts has helmed several businesses that have failed or have gone bankrupt in the last six years. A couple of these high profile bankruptcies cost investors in those companies millions and millions of dollars. Mr. Roberts is now the head of a new company, Infinium Labs, and is rounding up money from investors to realise his latest vision."
The article went on to cast aspertions about Roberts’ business dealings, and hinted that Infinium may well dealing in sharp practice.
Well, last week, Roberts came out fighting. In a legal letter to HardOCP, Infinium and Roberts demand a retraction. "We hereby demand that you immediately remove the Article and Infinium's proprietary images and marks from your website and the Internet, print a retraction of the article, and cease and desist from disparaging Infinium Labs and its principals in any way, including, but not limited to, making distorted and misleading statements about them or repeating distorted and misleading statements made by others. Your activities may provide sufficient grounds for Infinium and Mr Roberts to assert a number of...claims against you, including, without limitations, trade disparagement and trade libel, trademark infringement, tortuous interference, and unfair business practices. Furthermore, your statements and use of Infinium's proprietary images were obviously published with the intent to tarnish Infinium's image and dilute the value of its name. Such conduct is actionable under federal law."
To date the Phantom represents nothing more than an interesting controller design and someone else’s financial black hole.